The Penn's Grove record., 1887-05-28

didn't notice anything except that the
letter had a Spanish stamp"
"Eh2" exclaimed Mr. Gimblet,
quickly.
"That is what the man said, SIR"
said the clerk, a little startled by an
abrupt movement of his master.
Every well. What else?" inquired
MI. Gimblet.
1t was evident, however, that his
mind was preoccupied, and that he
paid but little attention to the remain
ing details which his assistant related.
The latter were quite unimportant,
and when the man had finished, MI.
Gimblet dismissed him without asking
anything further. But, the incident OF
the letter-or rather the envelope
afforded him food for reflection. The
letter ~professed to have been written
from Queenstown, and to have come
from there. Mr.. Gimblet had seen a
copy of 1t, the original being in the
hands of the police. Obviously the
envelope containing 1t ought to have
been franked by an English stamp.
The fact OF its having a Spanish stamp
| showed conclusively that it had not
been posted in Ireland. OF course, it
was Just possible that the valet may
have been mistaken at a hasty glance;
but, on the other hand, why should
Mr. Want have seized it SO anxiously,
and why had he destroyed so important
a piece of evidencep Upon the whole,
Mr.. Gimblet was inclined to believe
the correctness OF the Wallets story;
and this suggested the inference that
Mr.. Want had deliberately been mis-
leading the police and his creditors for
the purpose of screening his partner.
The train of thought which followed
this discovery kept Mr. Gimblet's mind
fully occupied for half ar hour, during
which he sat at his desk whistling
softly to himself, with a very knowing
expression. at length he reused him
self from his reverie and started off
into the city, where he paid a visit to
Mr.. Want.
''I've called SIR" he said, quietly,
upon being ushered into that gentle
mans office, with reference to our
conversation the other day.
"Ahl Very glad to see you, Mr..
Gimb.et," said Mr.. Want, who had
been permitted, owing to the sympathy
of his creditors, to continue his business
under favorable auspices. There is
no news, Pm sorry to say, l suppose
you have nonep"
swell, l think I've found out some
thing, SIR" said MI. Gimblet, with
edifying humility.
"Indeedl What is itP" inquired MI.
Want, condescendingly.
"You said the letter announcing the
flight of your partner came from
Queenstown"
$50 it did. The police have It,"
"It professed to come from Queens
town, but l can prove that it come
from Spain, and that you knew it,
said Mr.. Gimblet, in a matter of-fact
tone.
Mr.. Want fell back in his chair as
though he had been shot, and turned
as pale as marble. The ex~-detective's
calm and penetrating gaze caused the
denial he attempted to utter to die
away OF his lips. After a pause he
said horsely:
81 did it for the best. He had
wronged me, but he had been my
friend. 1 had no other motive"
"You may tell that to the marines,
sir" said Mr.. Gimblet, with a wink.
do you mind my telling You a little
storyP"
"What about?" murmured Mr..
Want.
about two friends Of mine-call
'em Smith and JONES'" began Mr..
Gimblet, quite cheerfully. ''Smlth
and Jones were III business together,
but things went from bad to worse,
till nothing remained but to shut up
shop. But Smith, who was an enter
prising fellow, proposed to Jones to
raise all the money they could, to collar
everything they could lay their hands
on, aud to make a bolt"
"Nothing Of the kind nothing Of the
kindl'' gasIed MI. Want.
'But Jones had a better idea than
that" resumed Mr.. Gimblet. "He
suggested instead that Smith should do
as he proposed, and leave him behind
This arrangement would suit both OF
them Smith would have more capital
to make a fresh start In another coun.
try, while Jones would remain behind
and pose as a martyr. You see, SIR, a
crash was inevitable; Jones was bound
to have lost everything, and he pre-
ferred to do 50 under circumstances
that would secure popular sympathy
and induce his friends to come forward.
Besides, of course, he was TO have part
of the swag on the quiet"
mo. I'll swear, not a farthing,"
cried Mr.. Want, ~yehemently. It's
it's a lie, all Of It," be added, evidently
beside himself.
"There is a precious lot of money
gone, Mr.. Vsnt," said Mr.. Gimblet,
meaningly.
"Look here, Mr.. Gimblet," said Mr..
Want, making a desperate effort to re
cover his composure, and dropping his
voice to a tremulous whisper, suppose
everything had happened precisely as
you say. what could you proven"
"I should leave that to others" re-
piled Mr.. Gimblet, eyasively.
''But nobody could prove anything.
Do you doubt, If L had done as you
suggest, l should not have taken every
possible precautlon? AS regards your
wonderful discovery about the letter
having come from Spain"
"Well?" inquired Mr.. Gimblet, as
his companion paused.
81 deny 1t, but stIll-name your
pricel"